Mother charged in Royal Oak Twp. shooting

A 72-year-old Royal Oak Township woman was charged with attempted murder Friday after police say she fired a gun at her adopted daughter during an argument over a bottle of water.

Mozella McIntyre was arraigned before Oak Park 45B District Judge David Gubow, who released her on personal bond and a GPS electronic tether. She also faces a felony firearm charge, a two-year felony.

Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the suspect’s house Tuesday night by her daughter, 20, who was uninjured.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Allan said the shooting happened in the basement of the suspect’s house in the 21000 block of Reimanville.

“The daughter wanted a bottle of water and her mother said no,” Allan said. “An argument ensued and the mother got a .38-caliber handgun, pointed it at the victim, pulled the trigger and the gun misfired because the chamber was empty. The mother fidgeted with the gun and was raising it a second time when it fired and a bullet struck a wall near the daughter.”

Police said they later recovered the bullet from the suspect’s 38 Special Smith & Wesson and confiscated the weapon. The gun is legally registered to the suspect.

McIntyre has no previous criminal history, police said.

The suspect is expected to return to her home while she is free on personal bond and the daughter has moved to another location, Allan said.

“This is a family tragedy and I would encourage people to call us so we can peacefully intervene before a situation like this rises to this level of tension,” he said.

The attempted murder charge against McIntyre is punishable by up to life in prison.

She is scheduled for a pre-exam hearing in Oak Park District Court at 1 p.m. June 4. A preliminary examination on the evidence against McIntrye is set for 1 p.m. June 6.